Hold on to Your Hats!

After I posted that sort of humdrum update last night, things took a major turn.

We're going to London! Yes, really!

We had been talking about taking a vacation for a long while. The only vacation we've ever had was Disney back in '06, so we felt kind of due. The problem was that everything was either prohibitively expensive (resort in Puerto Rico) or not really feasible with Andy's bum leg (sightseeing in Washington, DC). Then it dawned on us that Andy's sister Jo lives in London, so we could stay with her for free, and also eat many meals at her house for much less than it would cost to eat out. We Googled some flights, and it seemed really doable—cheap, even. There's a strong chance she'll be moving back Stateside in another year or so (her son already goes to college here, and her daughter has only one more year of high school and will likely go to college here too), so we're closing in on our last chance at a cheapo European vacation.

Next, we realized that my passport expired eons ago, and the kids never got passports. (Andy renewed his a few years back when he had to travel to Canada on business.) There wasn't time to go the traditional application route (4–6 weeks), so I spent all day today unearthing official documents and filling out endless forms and making photocopies (Oh, look! Andy's driver's license expired last October!) and having photos taken and writing BIG checks to expedite the process. We finally signed, sealed, and delivered everything at the post office late this afternoon, having been told that they were pretty darn sure we'd have the four new passports in hand in 2.5 to 3 weeks. And ... we're planning to leave in 3.5 weeks! Eeeeek! It was laborious and stressful and ridiculously expensive. (There's also an option where you can pay even MORE to get your passports in hand within 2–3 days, but for that option you must show that you're planning to travel within 2 weeks, which we're not.)

Then we came home and went online to book the flights. And they were all sold out. Except for the ones that were more than twice as expensive or had overnight layovers in NYC or Toronto or O'Hare. Every single fricking flight on every single fricking airline had gotten booked solid in the space of a few hours. Then I did the unthinkable: I booked flights that included the dreaded red-eye on the way there. Yes, I (who have never so much as blinked on a plane, let alone napped) and 3 kids (who are all uniquely and weirdly protective of their sleep habits) will be leaving Boston at dinnertime and arriving in London before breakfast. Oh yeah, and Andy (who can probably catch a few Z's while standing upright if he's tired enough).

But then! We will be in England for a whole week! Jo can drive us around to alleviate some of the walking for Andy, and she can even hang out with him while I take the kids around if we are getting too adventuresome for him. We will be staying in a real house with a real kitchen and real laundry, which makes the whole idea of traveling with kids much less daunting. Maybe Andy and I will even get a dinner out alone?? Stay tuned....

Comments

[Elena]

I didn't even think there were any planes from the East Coast to the UK or Europe that were NOT overnight flights. I have always done it that way. What fun!!! I have been longing to go back to London for such a long time. The last time I was there was about 24 years ago!

[Elena]

Oh wait, you're not going to be there around the time of the royal wedding are you? I had wanted to go over spring break but was afraid of what the crowds would be like!

[jude]

lucky!!!

[Stephanie]

Ahhhhh the mystery of the passports solved!!! Have a fabulous time, and make sure you take lots of PHOTOS.

HAVE FUN!

And I am still waiting for my wedding invitation, so if you happen to see one with my name on it, please bring it home. . . . I am ready to go shopping for a wedding dress.

[Liz]

I too DO NOT SLEEP on planes. A red-eye flight is an all-nighter for me. As I sit wide awake (usually at the back of the plane) I spend the entire flight listening for unusual noises and being amazed at all the people SLEEPING. I think I dozed once on the 13 hour leg of our flight to Korea 6 years ago. I have not been able to replicate that experience. Have a wonderful time in jolly-olde.

[Rachel K]

I traveled to London in 1990 after I graduated college. I loved it. Had a chance to go to Wimbledon, and also saw Big Ben, Parliament, Westminster Abbey and Bath. Piccadilly Circus and Trafalgar Square are also fun! Have a great time!

[Deborah]

I'm with Elena - I didn't realize you could fly other than overnight. I always arrive in Europe half asleep but jazzed up...a strange kind of high. But I do sleep pretty easily on planes. Especially with my husband next to me as a pillow. :) Can't wait to hear about it!

[Kathryn]

That's so exciting. Travelling is always fun! Well, sometimes not the /during/ or the /planning/ but I've never once regretted an o/s trip.
I've been a lurker here for years and years, but never felt I'd add anything to the conversation. However, I live in London and if you'd like any suggestions, let me know. I don't have kids, but I do love the museums, and English afternoon tea and generally the touristy goodies of London, so I might be able to point you at some interesting stuff. Altough I am sure Jo knows most of them already.
Hope you all have a great time!

[Tom Compton]

Have a wonderful time! London is one of the great cities of the world. Our last trip there was to visit when my daughter, Sabrina was in a summer program at Oxford. She and her pals would take the Oxford Express bus into London for the weekends. When she finally figured out the Tube map, she called me. "Dad, I OWN this town! I can go ANYWHERE on the underground!" My best tip is when crossing London streets, always LOOK TO THE RIGHT! LOL! Last trip a London cab almost took me out. The only thing that saved me was Sabrina grabbing my collar and yanking me back to the curb.

[Kim B]

The red eye is the way to go! If you fly during the day, you aren't tired when it is bed/night time there. Do you know there is a Legoland not too far out of London? Is your gang too old for Legoland now? We went when the kids were younger (7, 4 and 1) and loved that, the London Eye, playgrounds, pub lunches, a Thames cruise, seeing to the Prime Meridien and just wandering around. There are some great museums too, in case the weather is typical London weather. Have a wonderful trip!

[Kelly]

Fun, fun, fun. I am squelching the jealousy thoughts...